Crowded field set for May primaries

Wednesday

Feb 28, 2018 at 12:49 PMFeb 28, 2018 at 3:24 PM

Pender sheriff, New Hanover commissioner, state House races and U.S. House all feature primary challenges

By Tim Buckland StarNews Staff

SOUTHEASTERN N.C. -- The region will play host to numerous primary contests this spring, including a crowded Republican race for Pender County sheriff, a Democratic primary for U.S. House, a three-person Democratic primary for one state House seat, and Republican primary challenges for two of the region's incumbent state House members.

Seven Republicans are vying for the party's nomination for Pender sheriff to replace Carson Smith, who is running for the N.C. House District 16 seat held by N.C. Rep. Bob Muller, R-Pender. Muller, who was appointed last year after the resignation of former Rep. Chris Millis, didn't file for re-election.

The GOP candidates for sheriff are Larry Brown, Randy Burton, Joe Cina, Alan Cutler, Jason Spivey, Jimmie Stokes and Chester Ward. Just one Democrat, Lawrence Fennell, entered the race, meaning Fennell moves on to the Nov. 6 general election. The job's most recent salary was $101,131.

N.C. Rep. Ted Davis, R-New Hanover, and Rep. Frank Iler, R-Brunswick, were the region's only state or national incumbents to draw a primary challenge. Republican Hunter Ford has challenged Davis, while Brunswick County commissioner Pat Sykes has challenged Iler.

For the region's U.S. House seat, incumbent Rep. David Rouzer, R-N.C., drew no primary challenge. But Democrat Dr. Kyle Horton of Kure Beach, who has been running for Congress since early last year, will square off in a Democratic primary against Grayson Parker of Goldsboro. The district stretches from Southeastern N.C. to the outer suburbs of Raleigh.

New Hanover County

New Hanover County will see primaries for several races, including a three-way Democratic Party primary for the state House seat held by Rep. Holly Grange, R-New Hanover. Grange did not draw a Republican primary challenger and will move on to the general election.

Democrat Leslie Cohen was among the earliest candidates to file for office -- she filed on the Feb. 12 opening day -- but was joined in the race by former Pender County manager John Bauer and, on Wednesday's final day of filing, Wilmington attorney Gary K. Shipman, the former chairman of the county Democratic Party.

Shipman said he was compelled to run after hearing a disembodied voice "as clear to me as if my mother was next to me. She said, 'It's time,' " Shipman told his supporters. "For years, I've chosen to stand in the background and help others. There comes a time when you have to stop talking and start doing."

Shipman was accompanied at his filing by perhaps the county's most prominent Democrat, Susi Hamilton, the N.C. Secretary of Natural and Cultural Resources, who endorsed Shipman. But his support Wednesday was bipartisan -- Pete Divoky, vice chairman of the county Republican Party, who said Shipman is "an old friend," also attended Shipman's filing ceremony.

Locally, the county will see a seven-candidate Republican primary for four school board seats and a Democratic primary for the two board of commissioners seats up for election.

Incumbent Commissioner Rob Zapple, former state senator and commissioner Julia Olson-Boseman and James Middleton will contest a primary to decide which two will square off against incumbent Republican Skip Watkins and Republican Eric Lytle.

For New Hanover school board, incumbent Republicans Ed Higgins, Janice Cavenaugh, Bruce Shell and Don Hayes were joined in the contest by Bill Rivenbark, Christopher Morgan and Frank Meares. Four Democrats also filed for school board seats.

Brunswick and Pender

Brunswick County will see two local primary elections. Tom Adams, the chairman of the N.C. State Ports Authority, has challenged incumbent Commissioner Randy Thompson in a Republican primary. With no Democratic or third-party candidate in the race, the primary will decide the winner of the race.

Three Republicans also entered the District 5 school board race -- Gerald Benton, Robert Cruise and incumbent John Thompson.

In Pender County, commissioners' chairman George Brown, a Republican, drew a primary challenge from David Fallin. No Democrat entered the race, so the primary will decide the victor. Two Democrats, Morgan Lashaw and Dorothy Royal, will square off in May to decide who will challenge incumbent Commissioner David Williams, a Republican.

Pender school board member Katherine Herring did not file for re-election for her District 4 seat. Two Democrats, Reginald Terrell Moore and June Robbins, will contest a primary to see who will face the only Republican in the race, Ken Smith.

Elizabeth Craver, the Republican clerk of superior court, drew a primary challenge from Susan Lunsford. No other candidates entered the race.

The primary Election Day is May 8. The general Election Day is Nov. 6.

Reporter Tim Buckland can be reached at 910-343-2217 or Tim.Buckland@StarNewsOnline.com.

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